Fletcher OKs 192-unit apartment complex on U.S. 25

Published: Friday, August 15, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 14, 2014 at 6:22 p.m.

Developers of Ballantyne Commons and Brittany Place in Hendersonville hope to break ground next spring on a high-end, gated apartment complex in Fletcher called The Seasons at Cane Creek.

Fletcher Town Council unanimously approved two rezonings and a special use permit this week necessary for the $19 million, 192-unit project to move forward.

Town officials said the development is a first on several fronts.

“This is probably the first big rental community Fletcher has seen,” said Planning Director Eric Rufa. “Historically, we've had multi-family townhomes and condos that were individual owner-occupied.”

It's also the town's “first major residential development” since the housing bubble burst in 2007, he said.

Grading for the 12-acre development at the intersection of U.S. Highway 25 and Blake Road should begin this spring, said William Ratchford, vice president of Gastonia-based Southwood Realty, which will manage the property.

“But it depends on how early our complexes in Asheville fill up,” Ratchford said. Southwood is currently building two apartment projects in Buncombe County, the 224-unit Palisades complex on Mills Gap Road and the 192-unit Avalon complex on Sweeten Creek Road.

The Seasons at Cane Creek will feature 72 one-bedroom, 84 two-bedroom and 36 three-bedroom apartments, 18 of which will offer attached garages. Monthly rent will range from about $800 to roughly $1,300, Ratchford said.

The apartments will have 9-foot vaulted ceilings, crown molding and black appliances, and a percentage of the units will offer sunrooms, he said. Almost 3 acres of the complex will remain as open space, with walking trails, picnic areas, a swimming pool and fitness center.

“I think you'll see a very similar clientele (to Ballantyne),” Ratchford said. “You'll still get a lot of snowbirds, a lot of people transitioning from one house to another. And at this price range, you'll get a lot of people who just don't want to buy a house at this time. They'd rather wait and see what side of town they want to live on.”

The garage option will appeal to renters who “have a motorcycle or a nice car,” he added. “But it's also for if you're moving from your house to a new home and instead of renting a storage unit across town, if you forgot something at 9 o'clock at night, you just go down and grab it.”

The complex's main access will be off Highway 25, Ratchford said, with a second gate on Blake Road that will be for emergency vehicles only. Developers must still secure a driveway permit from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

No one spoke against the project during public hearings held by Fletcher's planning board or town council, Rufa said, although 15 to 20 people from surrounding properties showed up at the former meeting.

“I got the sense they showed up to hear the information,” Rufa said. “They were silent, so we never did hear any concerns.”

Ratchford said there were residents from the nearby Townes at Bagwell Mill community who had initial concerns about the project.

“But it's a very high-end deal and they realized that this property will positively affect their property values,” he said. “These (renters) are the people that can buy their condos.”

<p>Developers of Ballantyne Commons and Brittany Place in Hendersonville hope to break ground next spring on a high-end, gated apartment complex in Fletcher called The Seasons at Cane Creek. </p><p>Fletcher Town Council unanimously approved two rezonings and a special use permit this week necessary for the $19 million, 192-unit project to move forward. </p><p>Town officials said the development is a first on several fronts.</p><p>“This is probably the first big rental community Fletcher has seen,” said Planning Director Eric Rufa. “Historically, we've had multi-family townhomes and condos that were individual owner-occupied.” </p><p>It's also the town's “first major residential development” since the housing bubble burst in 2007, he said.</p><p>Grading for the 12-acre development at the intersection of U.S. Highway 25 and Blake Road should begin this spring, said William Ratchford, vice president of Gastonia-based Southwood Realty, which will manage the property.</p><p>“But it depends on how early our complexes in Asheville fill up,” Ratchford said. Southwood is currently building two apartment projects in Buncombe County, the 224-unit Palisades complex on Mills Gap Road and the 192-unit Avalon complex on Sweeten Creek Road.</p><p>The Seasons at Cane Creek will feature 72 one-bedroom, 84 two-bedroom and 36 three-bedroom apartments, 18 of which will offer attached garages. Monthly rent will range from about $800 to roughly $1,300, Ratchford said.</p><p>The apartments will have 9-foot vaulted ceilings, crown molding and black appliances, and a percentage of the units will offer sunrooms, he said. Almost 3 acres of the complex will remain as open space, with walking trails, picnic areas, a swimming pool and fitness center. </p><p>“I think you'll see a very similar clientele (to Ballantyne),” Ratchford said. “You'll still get a lot of snowbirds, a lot of people transitioning from one house to another. And at this price range, you'll get a lot of people who just don't want to buy a house at this time. They'd rather wait and see what side of town they want to live on.”</p><p>The garage option will appeal to renters who “have a motorcycle or a nice car,” he added. “But it's also for if you're moving from your house to a new home and instead of renting a storage unit across town, if you forgot something at 9 o'clock at night, you just go down and grab it.”</p><p>The complex's main access will be off Highway 25, Ratchford said, with a second gate on Blake Road that will be for emergency vehicles only. Developers must still secure a driveway permit from the N.C. Department of Transportation.</p><p>No one spoke against the project during public hearings held by Fletcher's planning board or town council, Rufa said, although 15 to 20 people from surrounding properties showed up at the former meeting.</p><p>“I got the sense they showed up to hear the information,” Rufa said. “They were silent, so we never did hear any concerns.”</p><p>Ratchford said there were residents from the nearby Townes at Bagwell Mill community who had initial concerns about the project. </p><p>“But it's a very high-end deal and they realized that this property will positively affect their property values,” he said. “These (renters) are the people that can buy their condos.”</p><p>___</p><p>Reach Axtell at than.axtell@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7860.</p>